Plot in OotP (wand confusion)

[snow15145]

No: HPFGUIDX 118373


Renee snipped:

To make the existence of a Wormtail II plausible, you'll have to
come up with an argument, preferably canon-based, why this person
would have exactly the same nickname as Peter Pettigrew the Rat
Animagus (unless Wormtail is a common surname in Britain, of
course.) If you think it's Lupin, you have to answer Nora's direct
question, which I notice you don't do anywhere in your comment.

Snow:

You bring up a valid point to explore, Renee, about the surname 
Wormtail that may actually help in Pippin's double Pettigrew scenario 
although I realize you are not quite in favor of this theory.

Who gave the marauders their individual nicknames, i.e. did each 
person choose their own nickname or did one of the marauders suggest 
an appropriate nickname? The reason this may be relevant is Lupin's 
last name. It has been questioned in the past of the coincidence 
between the fact that he was bitten as a child and becomes a werewolf 
every month and the reference to his last name that implies werewolf 
traits; was he born with the Lupin surname? If Lupin's last name was 
originally Wormtail but was changed to Lupin without any of his 
friend's knowledge, Lupin may have suggested that Pettigrew's 
animagus nickname be Wormtail. This suggestion may not be cannon 
based but it does have just enough of a loophole for consideration. 
It seems to be the lack of previous information (non canon based) 
that becomes the relevance later on i.e. Barty Crouch being named 
after his father. No one questioned what his first name was until you 
looked back on it for reflective evidence to support whether there 
had been an adequate clue. 

Renee:

Just arguing that Peter couldn't have AK-ed Cedric doesn't work. I
see no reason why it would be impossible: as someone pointed out
before it's perfectly possible to carry a baby-sized Voldie in the
crook of one elbow, and it doesn't take a great deal of dexterity to
pull out a wand with your opposite hand, if only the wand is in the
right place to begin with. And why wouldn't it be? It seems only
logical that Pettigrew would have a wand at hand, under the
circumstances.

Snow:

I don't think it is just a question of how heavy or awkward the 
bundle is to hold with a wand at the ready but more so the suspicious 
circumstances surrounding this particular instance. Harry and Cedric 
are 6 feet from where this cloaked person stops next to a marble 
headstone when, conveniently for the scene, Harry's scar attacks him 
to the point of blindness so Harry nor the readers see who it is that 
attacked Cedric for certain. The next reference, although we know 
that the cloaked figure holding the bundle had been but six feet in 
front of them, Harry now hears a high cold voice coming from `far 
away' above his head. Next Harry hears a swishing noise and a second 
voice not directly identified as the voice of Wormtail, but we have 
learned to assume it to be, saying the AK spell.  Harry resumes his 
sight to find Cedric's dead body next to him and the cloaked figure 
pulling him towards `the' marble headstone that had been spoken of 
previous as to where the cloaked figure had stopped. Harry was tied 
to the marble headstone by the cloaked figure, that he now realizes 
is Pettigrew, and could not see anything that is directly in front of 
him. Harry has a limited view of the whole picture throughout and as 
he is the narrator of the scene has therefore blindfolded the reader 
along with him. When these artful tactics occur, I personally tend to 
be very suspicious. 

Snow